Bishop Shamana's Thanksgiving prayer: Do no harm, do good, love God

November 20, 2007

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we join with many people in this country and around the globe to give thanks, I am especially grateful to be in ministry with the California-Nevada Conference. The generosity of our churches that flows out of the blessings we have received from God in Christ Jesus brings joy to my heart. Many of you are continuing the radical hospitality of Jesus with Thanksgiving food baskets to the poor, dinners for the homeless in your church and your homes, serving in food lines, and countless other acts of kindness and advocacy with the heart of Christ.

Last week your Extended Cabinet was blessed to join with other Cabinets from across our connection as 800-plus leaders from the U.S., Philippines, Africa, and Europe came together at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, for a weekend summit to look at the future of our church. We committed ourselves to God’s new future and reclaimed the gifts of the past, especially the three tenets of our faith that are built on our Wesleyan heritage: Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. I rejoice with you as God continues to lead us closer to the Gospel message that points us inward and outward so that the world might be transformed.

The Clergy Convocation held November 13-15 at Zephyr Point also lifted our spirits and challenged us to claim a new future in Christ Jesus.

The world needs the gifts of the UnitedMethodistChurch. May our Conference be at the forefront of creative change as we make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. This is my prayer for you, Christ’s beloved.